embroidery | Laura Chau

every day I’m stitchin’

January 10, 2014

The package came a little while after Christmas, but Dale got me the materials for the Superhero Sampler! I used to cross stitch some when I was a kid, and I did the Winterwoods Sampler a couple years ago, but this will be my biggest cross stitch project ever! (Apparently I never took a photo of the finished Winterwoods sampler, which is still hanging around without a frame. I should get on that.)

I don’t have a lot of embroidery supplies anymore, so I improvised. One evening’s work was cutting up tissue boxes to make bobbins, and winding off all the floss.

Then I could get started. I finally learned the loop start, rather than using a knot.

I started from the center, so my first completed letter is M.

Super fun! It’s going to take awhile, but it’s a lovely change of pace.

Wednesday socks

September 18, 2013

I’ve had these socks on the needles forever – they mostly lived in my purse and I worked rounds here and there on the subway, waiting at the doctor’s, waiting around anywhere really. There wasn’t much incentive to finish them over the summer, but this week I was close enough to the end that not finishing them seemed silly!

A bit big on me, but that’s because they’re for the boyfriend! 68 stitches on 2mm (US 0) needles, 1×1 and 3×1 ribbed cuff and leg, standard top-down heel flap. The yarn was a gift years ago, so I’m glad I finally used it – it’s Claudia Handpainted sock yarn in Chocolate Cherry, mm!

My cross-stitched phone case has been looking pretty darn raggedy lately – the threads at the sides were just complete gone! So I spent some time yesterday clipping out the remaining threads. I used a lace weight silk/merino last time, which really wasn’t very durable. This time I’m using some proper embroidery thread, leftover from my Winterwoods sampler kit. I haven’t decided on a particular design, though I have some ideas – we’ll see where it goes.

Tonight (Wednesday the 18th) I’ll be at the Downtown Knit Collective for the Twist Collective fashion show, along with other fantastic Twist designers and LOTS of knitwear. It’s at Innis Town Hall at University of Toronto at 7:30 and everyone is welcome – you don’t have to be a member. Come check it out!